Why Getting Rich Quick Often Doesn’t Sound Crazy

Earlier this month, the Securities and Exchange Commission announced that a trading newsletter company, Wealthpire, and its owner had agreed to pay nearly $1.5 million to settle allegations they had defrauded subscribers through false statements and misleading advertisements.

Wealthpire and its owner, Manuel E. Jesus (who also goes by the name Manny Backus), settled without admitting or denying the allegations. While the money at...